Abstract: The support element (4) is provided with a plurality of connectors (7), (8), (11) which receive corresponding counter-connectors of a blood treatment device. The support element is also predisposed to include a fluid distribution circuitry cooperating with the blood treatment device in order to provide an integrated module for blood treatment. An assembly process of the integrated module for blood treatment is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an integrated blood treatment module (1) comprising a support element (4) and a fluid distribution circuitry associated thereto; the distribution circuitry comprises at least a blood line (44), a portion of which is secured to the support element and defines with the latter at least a U-shaped tube length (44a) designed to cooperate, when in use, with a respective pump (3a). There are then further fluid lines (45, 48, 50, 51) fastened to the support element and defining each at least a U-shaped tube length (45a, 48a, 50a, 51a) with respect to said element and each designed to cooperate, when in use, with a respective pump (3b, 3c, 3d, 3e). The support element has a first zone (274) in which the portion of the blood line is secured, and at least a second zone (275) opposite said first zone, to which all the corresponding further tube lengths are fastened.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the safety monitoring of a dialyzer including at least one holder for holding a container for a powdered substance in which the holder includes a supply end for supplying a liquid to the container and a delivery end for delivering liquid containing the powdered substance from the container to a concentrate pump. The apparatus includes a first supply conduit for supplying water to the supply end of the holder for delivery to the container, a first delivery conduit for delivering the water containing the powdered substance from the delivery end of the holder to the concentrate pump, and a second supply conduit which is connectable to either the delivery end of the holder or to the first delivery conduit. Methods for the safety monitoring of dialyzers are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filtration unit is disclosed for a dialysis machine. The unit includes a casing with a number of first connecting elements and a support provided with a number of second connecting elements. Structure is provided for locking the filter on the support when the first and second connecting elements engage each other. The lock structure may include a pair of slides movable between a locking position, in which locking parts interact with stopping portions, and a release position, in which the filter is not locked to the support. An elastic structure may be provided for resiliently urging the slides into the locking position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filtration system. The filtration system comprises a filter unit having a housing enclosing a filter element. The unit has an inlet into the housing upstream of the filter element. The unit also has a retentate outlet from the housing upstream of the filter element, and a permeate outlet from the housing, downstream of the filter element. The permeate outlet is isolated from the retentate outlet and inlet by the filter element, while the retentate outlet is spaced from the inlet and in communication therewith. The system also includes a bundle made up of a plurality of releasably interconnected modular members at least one of which includes a valve, the bundle forming a flow control unit which controls fluid flow from the inlet to the permeate outlet. The invention also provides the filter unit of the system.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the safety monitoring of a dialyzer including at least one holder for holding a container for a powdered substance in which the holder includes a supply end for supplying a liquid to the container and a delivery end for delivering liquid containing the powdered substance from the container to a concentrate pump. The apparatus includes a first supply conduit for supplying water to the supply end of the holder for delivery to the container, a first delivery conduit for delivering the water containing the powdered substance from the delivery end of the holder to the concentrate pump, and a second supply conduit which is connectable to either the delivery end of the holder or to the first delivery conduit. Methods for the safety monitoring of dialyzers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for the safety monitoring of a dialyzer including at least one holder for holding a container for a powdered substance in which the holder includes a supply end for supplying a liquid to the container and a delivery end for delivering liquid containing the powdered substance from the container to a concentrate pump. The apparatus includes a first supply conduit for supplying water to the supply end of the holder for delivery to the container, a first delivery conduit for delivering the water containing the powdered substance from the delivery end of the holder to the concentrate pump, and a second supply conduit which is connectable to either the delivery end of the holder or to the first delivery conduit. Methods for the safety monitoring of dialyzers are also disclosed.

Abstract: An adapter assembly for use in mating a filter cartridge to a filter manifold, includes an adapter body having a manifold coupler and a cartridge coupler. The manifold coupler is for mating with the filter manifold and has an inlet being fluidly communicable with a filter manifold fluid inlet and a fluid outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter manifold fluid outlet and having sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water from an outlet flow of filtered water. The cartridge coupler is for mating with the filter cartridge and has an inlet being fluidly communicable with a filter cartridge inlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold coupler inlet and a fluid outlet being fluidly communicable with a filter cartridge outlet and being in fluid communication with the manifold coupler outlet and having sealing means, the sealing means isolating an inlet flow of unfiltered water to the filter cartridge from an outlet flow of filtered water form the filter cartridge.

Abstract: A blood processing system for transport of blood between a patient and a blood processing unit includes (i) an arterial set 10 having a patient connector 15 at one end and a dialyzer connector 32 at the other end, and (ii) a venous set 14 having a patient connector 17 at one end and a dialyzer connector 33 at the other end. The dialyzer connectors and the patient connectors are adapted to be connected via interconnectors 19, 19d to form a loop so that the blood processing system can be primed without the dialyzer therein.

Abstract: A filter assembly comprises a tube plate supporting the open ends of a plurality of substantially tubular filter elements, the filter elements being provided in groups of three, the elements of each group being connected one to another in the group by three support strips, and the arrangement being such that any group of elements can be detached from the tube plate and replaced by the same or a replacement group without detaching or cutting away the other groups of elements from the tube plate.

Abstract: A dialyzing machine is provided with a cartridge holder to which a filter cartridge (11) or a dialyzer cartridge can be fastened. The cartridge holder (25) comprises a holding element (35) retaining the cartridge (11) and a clamping element (36) which is movable relatively to the holding element and radially to the inserted cartridge. The clamping element can be moved from an open position into a closed position. It comprises two connecting members (41,42) cooperating with the lateral connecting studs (26,27) of the cartridge, the connecting members (41,42) sealingly engaging with the two connecting studs (26,27) of the cartridge when the clamping element (36) is moved into the closed position. In this way a connection with the two connecting studs of the cartridge is produced by simply attaching the cartridge to the cartridge holder. It is no longer necessary to individually connect hoses to the connecting studs.

Abstract: A combined holder and connector for a dialysis machine for operating and monitoring dialysing devices is disclosed, including a holder pivotable about a holding axis and extending from the dialysis machine for handling of fluid to be processed inside that dialysis machine, the holder including a connector to connect the holder to a fluid coupler so that the fluid can flow between the fluid coupler and the dialysis machine, with the connection axis of the connector being transverse to the holder axis of the holder.

Abstract: A single vessel with no moving parts is constructed to perform the functions of coalescing, vacuum dehydration, and thin film evaporation.

Abstract: A dialysis machine is disclosed that incorporates a water treatment module, a dialysate preparation module having a dialysate circuit, and an extracorporeal circuit including a dialyzer and arterial and venous blood lines that connect to the patient. The machine accomplishes on-line disinfection of all the fluid circuits of the machine, including the water treatment module, the dialysate preparation module and extracorporeal circuit, the arterial and venous lines, and the dialyzer, by circulating water heated to a high level disinfection temperature (e.g., 80 degrees C.) through the fluid passages of the machine for a sufficient time (such as an hour) to achieve high level disinfection. After the dialysis session is ended, the patient connects the arterial and venous lines to ports in a disinfection manifold that places the arterial and venous lines into fluid communication with the heated water. Thereafter, the machine is ready to disinfect the fluid circuits including the extracorporeal circuit.

Abstract: A portable drinking water filtration apparatus for filtering and purifying water comprises a housing, a chamber formed inside the housing having an inlet opening, a first outlet opening, and a second outlet opening, filtration media positioned inside the chamber between the chamber inlet opening and the chamber outlet openings, and a pump mounted on the housing for forcing water through the filtration media, the second chamber outlet opening being in contact with the first chamber outlet opening for venting air as water is forced through the filtration media and discharged from the first chamber outlet opening and for discharging water from the chamber when the first chamber outlet opening is plugged. A plurality of bottle connection members are formed on the housing adjacent to the first chamber outlet opening for connecting the housing to a variety of different sized bottles.

Abstract: An integrated blood treatment fluid module is provided having particular multi-function application in the treatment of renal failure. The module comprises a support member, a blood treatment device mounted to the support member, and multiple fluid circuits, wherein a plurality of the fluid circuits are interconnected to the support member and at least one of the fluid circuits is fluidly connected to the blood treatment device. At least two of the fluid circuits are interconnected with the support member so as to have a portion of each disposed in a U-shape, each U-shape portion extending in a different direction, for selective positioning about a corresponding peristaltic pump of a blood treatment apparatus. For renal treatment applications, the blood conditioning device may be a hemofiltration device, hemodialysis device or high-flux dialyzer.

Abstract: An improved multi-port connection device (10) adapted to receive prior art membrane and filter canisters (12) and to make connections between plural connection devices more convenient and versatile, comprising a plurality of flow ports (43,45,47) which are all at a common level, two of which communicate through apertures (52,54) in a barrier wall (55) forming a female connector with input and output flow paths (18,16) in the canister male connector, said apertures (52,54) being positioned in the barrier wall (55) on separate sides of an O-ring seal at locations communicating with the input and output flow paths (18,16).

Abstract: An oil filter assembly for an internal combustion engine includes a filter element disposed in a spin-on canister which is detachably secure to a mounting adaptor having a conduit normally permitting some of the filtered lubricating oil to bypass the main lubricating circuit of the engine. The filter element carries a plug which seals the bypass conduit when the canister is installed on the adaptor so as to disable the internal bypass circuit of the adaptor and force all of the filtered oil to flow to the main lubricating circuit.

Abstract: A universal swimming pool water filter apparatus for a bottom opening tank comprising multiply useful dual reverse flow port means and cooperating filter medium support having various filtered water passing openings arranged to accommodate fixed cloth or free particulate filtering media, the port means flow being varied with the type of filtering medium support so that a minimum of different production parts are needed to meet all filtering needs, with a consequent reduction in manufacturing equipment and parts inventory.

Abstract: For selective removal of volatile substances from liquids, the initial liquid is fed to a crosscurrent diaphragm separation device (2), in which the permeate consisting of water and volatile substances is separated by increased transdiaphragm pressure and concentration difference. Then, the permeate is fed into a further liquid-volatile separation device (8), in which the alcohol is distilled out. The permeate now only consisting of water, salts, acids and extracts is then fed back into the crosscurrent diaphragm separation device (2), where it flows through the permeate side in countercurrent to the flow of the retenate. Excess permeate can be introduced into the dealcoholized initial liquid. By the process according to the invention the economic efficiency of the unit and the quality of the end product are significantly improved.

Abstract: A vascular access device includes a case having a first connection structured to couple with an end of a cut blood vessel such as an artery, a second connection structured to couple with an end of a cut blood vessel such as a vein, and access ports for removal means and admission means to be connected into the blood vessels. A valve is arranged in a rotating manner with two positions defining two independent passages. In a first position the valve establishes connection between the first connection and one of the access ports and between the second connection and the other of the access ports, respectively. The first position is apt for performance of a blood purification treatment. In a second position of the valve, one of the passages establishes mutual connection between the connections and the other of the passages establishes mutual connection between the access ports.

Abstract: A water purifier continuously circulates water under treatment between heating and purification apparatus. The purified water is selectively dispensed either directly into a vessel for food preparation or other uses requiring purified water, or into a beverage maker wherein a liquid distribution apparatus is utilized to uniformly distribute the liquid, for example, into a basket containing ground coffee for producing hot coffee through a percolation technique. The combined water purifier and beverage maker reduces the utensils needed for the above-mentioned functions and reduces the amount of space required for such utensils.

Abstract: A device is provided for removing particles formed in the deep fat frying of foodstuffs in liquefied grease which pumps the mixture of liquefied grease and the particles suspended therein from a deep fat fryer and delivers the mixture to a filter and provides for the return of the liquefied grease filtrate to the deep fat fryer or for its transfer to a storage container.

Abstract: This is a floor maintenance machine in the nature of a carpet extractor and a method of operating it whereby it may be operated either as a single cycle unit or a recycling unit. It also includes a method and apparatus for converting a carpet extractor so that the running time between solution changes is greatly extended. There is also a back flushing arangement of the filter which extends running time. The unit also has a liquid surge control. It also includes or encompasses a convertability cart which may function in several ways.

Abstract: A water filter connects into a waterline which feeds a faucet separate from the filter. A filter cartridge is seated within a canister and has an inlet and an outlet. The canister is removably attached to a cap in which is disposed an entrance port to communicate with the outlet and an exit port to communicate with the inlet. Also in the cap are an input port for receiving water from the line, an output port for delivering water into the line to feed the faucet, a passage which communicates between the input port and the exit port, a passageway which communicates between the input port and the output port and a channel which communicates between the entrance port and the output port. A diverter in the cap responds to a rate of water flow from the faucet of less than a predetermined amount for opening the passage and the channel and closing the passageway, while being responsive to a rate of flow greater than such amount for closing the passage and the channel but opening the passageway.

Abstract: A by-pass water softener system including a water softener made from a tube and two end caps, enclosing a charge of ion-exchange resin. A port passes through each end cap. One port is connectible to a hose which leads to a water distributor such as a hand-held shower head. The other port is connected to a diverter valve which selectively directs water from a water supply either to some other water distributor such as a wall-mounted shower head, or to a hose which leads to the other port of the water softener. A suspension device is provided to suspend the water softener, perhaps from the wall of a shower stall.

Abstract: A filtering system in which a plurality of filter assemblies are supported in a spaced relation relative to a common header which communicates with each of the assemblies. Each filter assembly consists of a plurality of individual filter units each of which is formed by a perforated tube and a filter material extending around the tube. The fluid to be filtered is drawn through the filter units and the header for passage externally of the system.

Abstract: A replaceable protein skimmer and carbon filtration unit is disclosed for use with a vertical lift aquarium filtration system. The normal flow path through the vertical lift to returning the air-water mixture to the aquarium is diverted through an integrally formed plastic unit housing a carbon filtration chamber through which the diverted air-water mixture passes.